Last week, I celebrated my 450th ride on my Peloton bike! In the Peloton community, although every ride has significance, each 50 to 100 rides is recognized as a good time to stop and reflect on how far you’ve come. For some reason, this milestone meant so much more than all of the other benchmarks I passed. Perhaps it’s because I realized just how much my bike has helped me, both mentally and physically, during the COVID lockdown crisis. And motherhood in general. I felt called to share just how much Peloton has meant to me.
Indoor cycling has been my workout of choice for the better part of 10 years. I took my first cycling class while living and working in New York City and I fell in love with it! Attending the classes intimidated me at first, but the energy, music and sweat made me hooked. For years after that, no matter what gym I belonged to, I always gravitated back to group spin classes.
Since Peloton hit the scene, I always marveled at the idea of owning one. Motherhood made working out in a gym a little more tricky, and the idea of attending the classes at home was very appealing to me. After moving from New York to Georgia, and naturally having more space, I decided to look into it more seriously. After much consternation and deliberation, I took the plunge and purchased my Peloton bike in June of 2019. The price at the time was hefty (and still is), but I decided to ditch my gym membership to help offset the cost. I knew in my heart that it was truly an investment in my health and I was just so excited to start this journey! Since my very first class, I knew this bike was going to be so much more than just a “bike”.
As a mom of two young children, Peloton has allowed me to exercise at my convenience, and no matter how hectic my day is going I can hop on my bike and ride. Physically, since purchasing my bike, it helped me lose 50 pounds of accumulated baby weight – but weight or size is something you will never hear Peloton instructors talk about. In fact, this is one of the things I love most about Peloton! The most important part of the Peloton community is the celebration of power, growth, resilience and appreciation for what our bodies can do. They never talk about weight loss or body shape because it is in fact irrelevant! This body-positive influence and mindset has helped me shift away from worrying about size and focused more on strength!
In the words of Robin Arzon, I turned my pain into power!
As a stay at home mom, it can be hard to find a healthy emotional outlet. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it is for this reason that Peloton has helped me through the COVID crisis in ways I didn’t even realize at the time. Logistically was great that I did not have to leave my house to work out, because we truly couldn’t! Gyms were closed and shut down indefinitely, so having the ability to still take classes at home was invaluable. During times of stress and uncertainty, having a way to channel my feelings or emotions in a positive way has been such a blessing for me. My kids love playing while I work out and I can watch them while I am doing it! They even love dancing along to the music, as well as taking classes geared for kids – there are actually quite a few! I am proud of show my kids that you can be healthy and have fun at the same time!
One of the best parts about Peloton is you do not in fact need the actual bike! There are thousands of app riders who pay for the Peloton app subscription and ride an off-brand bike. It’s a great option if you are hesitant to spend so much on exercise equipment! The app has hundreds of classes from barre, yoga, strength class and more.
Reader Questions:
Is it worth the price?
Yes, without a doubt. Especially if you’ve been paying the cost of a gym membership. We ditched our expensive family gym membership to help offset the cost. The bike itself is beautiful (I have the original bike, the bike + is even better, but more expensive). I have been on every type of spin bike, and nothing compares to this
Do you need to pay for the Peloton app subscription?
Yes. Think of your bike as a TV and the Peloton class subscription as your Netflix app. You own your bike, but the classes are streamed through your subscription to the classes, which is a separate fee of around $40 per month. Classes are both live and on demand, and updated in real time.
Would you recommend the warranty?
Yes, I would. My bike has undergone repairs due to the amount of usage my husband and I put on the bike. It’s worth it to me for peace of mind.
Should I buy the original bike or bike +?
It’s up to you! If I were a new shopper, I would go with the newest technology available and go for the bike +. If you’re spending a huge amount of money anyway, you might as well get the best. With that said, the original bike is now greatly discounted, so you would be getting an awesome bike at a really reasonable price!
Do I need to have taken a spin class before?
I would say no! However, it might help to know if you will enjoy riding a stationary bike. Some people have adamant feelings about what type of gym equipment they can workout with! You also don’t have to be in perfect shape! I certainly wasn’t. But it truly has made me so strong, and it’s incredible to look back at how far I’ve come since my very first ride.
How often do you ride and when?
I ride 6 days a week. Usually between 30 to 45 minute classes. Even a quick 30 minute class can set the tone for a great rest of my day! I typically ride in the mornings because that works best for my schedule.
Can the instructors see me during my ride?
No, they can’t!
How do you motivate yourself to work out at home?
I am an introvert by nature, so working out at home works for me. I also don’t feel as though I’m working out alone, because the classes make you feel as though you’re right there with the instructor on the ride. It does take some internal motivation to get on the bike, but I always try to remember how blessed I am to be able to do this in my home each day. It’s a privilege I try hard not to forget.
If you’re interested in purchasing a bike, visit www.onepeloton.com and take a peek at their various bike options and plans! They recently lowered the price of the bike that I have, and have other options such as a treadmill! You also have the option to finance the bike, which is what I did at first! If you have any questions, let me know!
